Harvest, use & eat flaxseed right

Flax seeds are considered a regional and healthy superfood. With us you can find out everything about harvesting, storing and the effects of flaxseed on digestion.

Flax seeds are the seeds of the Common linen (Linum usitatissimum), which can also be grown in the garden. Because of its many beneficial properties, flaxseed should be part of any healthy diet. We give tips on harvesting flaxseed, optimal storage and what to consider when buying and using flaxseed.

Harvest and store flaxseed

The seeds of the flax ripen in midsummer from late July to mid-August, when the plants die off and turn brown. The most important sign that the flax seeds are dry enough and therefore ready for harvest is the rustling of the grains in the capsules. When harvesting, you cut off the entire plant and put it in a burlap sack or bag to thresh out the seeds. With the help of a stone rolling pin, the capsules can be easily cracked without damaging the flaxseed. Alternatively, you can free the seeds by running your feet over them. The harvested flax seeds should be cleaned up by sieving or a stream of air to remove capsule residues and other plant parts. Fresh linseed can be pressed directly into oil. To store the flax seeds, they should first dry for a few days at room temperature. The seeds find ideal conditions in cool, dry and dark surroundings, for example filled in mason jars. Flax seeds can be stored safely for about two years.

tip: Freshly squeezed linseed oil can only be stored in the refrigerator for about two months as it quickly goes rancid.

Use of flaxseed

Flaxseeds can be enjoyed pure or in the form of flaxseed oil. Your oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, so it shouldn't be heated. The nutty-tasting, golden-yellow linseed oil is ideal for preparing salads, cold starters, spreads and pestos.

Oil paints and glazes can also be made very well from linseed oil.

The press cake from oil production can be used as animal feed.

The pure seeds, on the other hand, are traditionally found in muesli, bars and baked goods. Flaxseed sprouts can be grown from untreated seeds on any windowsill and harvested after just three days. In the vegan kitchen, the gelatinous mass of the swollen flaxseed is used as an egg substitute or pudding alternative.

Use flax seeds or chia seeds and psyllium? Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica), Flaxseed and flea seeds (Plantago) all have a positive effect on digestion. They have a high fiber content, a strong ability to swell and are considered to be Superfood. However, flax seeds can be locally grown locally, while chia seeds and flea seeds have so far been produced mainly grown in South America and India and therefore have a large ecological footprint cause.

How should you eat flaxseed?

Flax seeds can be added to many dishes and consumed on a daily basis. The daily dose is between one and two tablespoons, with a short-term intestinal treatment that can take up to 45 g per day over a few days. It is important to always drink enough water with the flaxseeds that swell.

Can you eat flaxseed raw?

Flax seeds can be eaten raw without any problems. Heating up during baking, roasting or roasting even has a negative effect on their healthy ingredients. This is why linseed oil is also cold-pressed and should only be used cool.

Should you eat flaxseed whole or whole?

Flaxseed in crushed or ground form offer a significantly better surface for the stomach acid to attack than the whole seed, which is often excreted whole without being chewed. On the other hand, minerals, protein and fatty acids can be absorbed more easily from seeds that have already been crushed. It is best to always make fresh flaxseed meal yourself, because important ingredients are lost during storage. Ground flaxseed or meal can therefore only be kept for about six months without loss or change in taste. The swelling effect remains, however, regardless of whether the flaxseed is crushed, ground or consumed whole.

Do you have to soak flaxseed?

In principle, flax seeds do not have to be soaked, as they bind water on their way through the digestive tract and also develop their swelling effect in the process. Soaking flaxseed beforehand can be useful if you have digestive problems. The so-called flaxseed tea is said to be particularly effective in treating constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gastric mucosal irritation and heartburn. Here you let two teaspoons of freshly ground flaxseed swell in 200 ml of cold water for about 30 minutes and then filter the liquid through a fine sieve. The digestive substances are released from the seeds and drunk neat.

Effects of flaxseed

Thanks to their mucilage, linseed can swell up with water and thus increase the volume of the food. In the intestine, this promotes intestinal activity, which is why flaxseed is used against constipation. They work best around 12-24 hours after ingestion. However, if consumed in excess or if too little was drunk, the effect of flaxseed is reversed and can lead to constipation or even intestinal obstruction. The maximum daily dose of flaxseed should therefore not be exceeded and a good fluid intake should always be ensured. Linseed oil has a similar laxative effect without binding water and is also available as a capsule.

Linseed for horses: When keeping horses, linseed can be added to the feed in the case of digestive problems and mild colic. Ideally, crushed flaxseed is left to soak before it is fed to horses so that the active substances can be absorbed well.

Flaxseed for dogs: Dogs also benefit from flaxseed, because the four-legged friends quickly suffer from digestive problems. Here, too, you should ensure sufficient fluid intake when feeding and give the flaxseed with water. The healthy ingredients also lead to shiny fur or hair in humans and animals.

Are Flaxseeds Healthy?

Flax seeds are healthy and low in carbohydrate seeds. They consist of around 25% indigestible fiber, 25% protein and 30-45% oil, with particularly unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, minerals such as iron and vitamins E and K are found in flaxseed. Flaxseed sprouts can be made similar to cress (Lepidium sativum) draw on the windowsill all year round and thus provide nutrients and vitamins even in the cold season. However, flax seeds are considered calcium robbers, which is why the seeds ideally always with calcium-containing foods such as dairy products or Types of cabbage (Brassicaceae) like Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) or broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) can be consumed. The nutty linseed oil in quark is traditionally mixed with jacket potatoes as a dip.

Another oil plant that can be grown and harvested in your own garden is that Oil radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis). We introduce the cabbage family (Brassicaceae) and give tips for successfully growing the green manure plant.